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Original poster

Right, that does it, they have GOT to ban kids' advertising

72 replies

JanH · 06/12/2004 13:48

On You and Yours today (I would do a link but it's not there yet) they had a feature on "pester power" - talked to a small selection of mums shopping at the Gateshead Metro Centre (I think) and then to one who was looking to borrow £1400 for this Christmas from her local Credit Union when it would take her 2 years to pay it off. Shock (CU woman kindly said she could have £700 only.)

They all said, one way or another, "well they see these things on the telly and they want them so I have to get them". They were spending upwards of £600 per child. Angry This is INSANE. AngryAngry If many parents have become unable to say no to their kids then at least if the kids aren't tempted quite as much their bills might be a bit more sensible...no product ads on kids' TV in December would be a start.

I know You and Yours is a bit inclined to do "shock! horror! burnt mouth on hot coffee!" stories but assume they didn't trawl through the place looking for people with bottomless purses.

(Mind you, having said all that - we have friends whose kids are now mid 20s, and when they were small they used to be encouraged to go through the Argos catalogue to write out their wish lists and then got most of what was on them. They are still spoilt rotten today too!)

OP posts:
GingerBells · 06/12/2004 13:52

I completely agree! I have written to complain to Channel Five. I object to my 2.5 year old being bombarded with these ads during morning TV. I know that I could switch off or over to Cbeebies, but she would miss her daily fix of Peppa Pig.

It starts in October too, not just December.

NomDePlumPudding · 06/12/2004 13:54

If you can afford to spend these astronomical amounts of money on presents then fine, it's your money, your decision. But I really do think it is crazy when people who can't afford endless costly gifts are buying them on the never-never and then killing themselves to pay it all back.

ItllBeLonelymumThisChristmas · 06/12/2004 13:54

I was just thinking about a related topic to this today. Looking around my children's playroom (in our basement which is the entire floor area of the house, IYSWIM) I saw so many toys that are never played with and I thought, if we all only ever gave our children on toy for Christams each, they would love it and play with it constantly. Why do we all get drawn into the trap of buying more and more toys each year?

I am eeping a rough cost this year, and I think we have spent about £50- £60 on each child, including FC stuff. Is that reasonable?

aBeanInaManger · 06/12/2004 13:55

Shock £600 per child!

don't think ads should be banned though, do people really have to buy their kids everything they want? Maybe young children shouldn't be watching tv anyway.

but then again, I didn't have a tv when I was young and I still knew exactly what I wanted for xmas, and usually got most of the things on my list.

FestiveFrex · 06/12/2004 13:58

Mine tend to go through catalogues for their wish lists. However, they will only receive one or two items off that list from us and possibly one or two others from grandparents.

£600 per child is totally ridiculous and even more so when you don't have that sort of money in the first place. I don't know about kids' pester power, it's about time the parents learnt a little self-restraint. Just because a child says they want something, doesn't mean that they have to have it.

Caligulights · 06/12/2004 13:59

Very sad, that item. I felt really sorry for the woman who said, every other day of the year she has to say "no" to her kids because they can't afford it, so on this one day of the year she wants to say "yes".

I can understand that sentiment, but I just don't share it. I don't suddenly become rich when it's Christmas, and my kids have got to understand that, otherwise every December will be hell. But yes, I totally agree that TV advertising to kids should be banned. They don't spend millions of pounds on it for nothing.

Original poster
JanH · 06/12/2004 13:59

Well they also talked about peer pressure and the plight of hard-up kids in more affluent areas who do get teased for not having the same as everybody else. It's a very self-confident child (and parent) who can stand up to that.

£50-60 sounds very reasonable to me, lonelymum. We usually aim for something similar but it ends up around £100 per child inclduing stockings.

OP posts:
SantaClausfrau · 06/12/2004 14:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
JanH · 06/12/2004 14:03

I have just noticed that "advertising" has dropped off the end of the thread title above - look what it says now! Grin

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ItllBeLonelymumThisChristmas · 06/12/2004 14:03

I can't even imagine what costs anything like £600. A bike, a TV and a DVD together would hardly come to that, would it?

ItllBeLonelymumThisChristmas · 06/12/2004 14:04

No mine still says advertising. But I would join a protest to ban kids too if you proposed it!

BadHair · 06/12/2004 14:04

I've started trying to teach ds1 (who's 4) about TV advertising. I've told him that bad men make these films (sorry to any ad people out there) to make children want things that Father Christmas might not have. We've written a list with 3 things on it (bike, stuff for his train set and a saxophone (toy one)) and that's what he'll get. With a few extras, plus pressies from family, obviously.
I just don't have the money to get him all this stuff that he just won't have the time to play with.

ChristmasCracker · 06/12/2004 14:06

My Dd2 (nearly 5), sat the other day saying "i want that" to every ad that cam eon and didn't even bother to look up.

I told her i will quite gladly swap one of her xmas pressies for a box of washing powder if she really wants it Grin

I have started saying NO before they even get the "i want that" out now.

Original poster
JanH · 06/12/2004 14:07

Mini motorbikes...PCs...lots of PC/PS1 games...Action Man/Barbie with outfits and accessories...

Actually one woman did include clothes, shoes and coats in her list which is a bit more sensible, assuming they weren't all shiny satiny party stuff which will get used twice.

I'm all for practical presents - I have been known to give my kids duvet covers for Christmas! Blush

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Original poster
JanH · 06/12/2004 14:09

Oh yes, "advertising" wrapped around, didn't spot it lurking down there (obviously)!

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Smashingpumpkin · 06/12/2004 14:13

I have four children and have spent £207 pounds on all of them. They all have pressies that they have asked for and most certainly won't feel like they've gone without. However they are still quite small and I do worry about when they get older. My kids are most excited about seeing their Auntie Mickey who lives away and is coming home for christmas......they are lovely kids if I do say so myself!!

hana · 06/12/2004 14:14

so glad that dd is content watching cbeebies, I hate commercials!

motherinfestivemood · 06/12/2004 14:16

It makes me shudder. And realise that the best investment DP ever persuaded me to make was a digi-box which means the inferiorettes get CBeebies and NO sodding advertising.

I too have started brainwashing DD1 by explaining 'they want you to spend money on it'.

Caligulights · 06/12/2004 14:18

I loathe them - have turned into one of those mums who won't let her kids watch ITV! Always thought they were lunatics before, but I find myself wanting to throw something at the TV when an ad comes on in a children's programme!

Tinker · 06/12/2004 14:19

Oo, I've brainwashed daughter as well. She now repeats "Adverts are silly, they're just trying to get you to buy stuff you don't need". That's
my girl Wink

Much as I agree ads aimed at kids should be banned, do think there needs to be some serious education of available to parents about consequences of spending this amount of money on Christmas when you can't afford it.

Satine · 06/12/2004 14:21

Apparently in Sweden advertising aimed at children is banned. If only.....it's one reason why I like CBeebies so much. Mind you, adults are bombarded even before their babies are born - look at those "what you need for your new baby" leaflets in shops like Mothercare. I feel like lurking around the shops saying to pregnant mums "You will never use that! Save your money!"

JaNgLyBELLS · 06/12/2004 14:26

I've always told my children that the adverts are about rich people trying to get lots of money from Mummy and Daddy. I think they took it on board.

FlashingRudolphNose · 06/12/2004 14:31

Do people just not say "no" to their kids any more? Do they really think it's good for their children to have every toy ever made? I am a complete Scrooge and buy my kids very little throughout the year (apart from art supplies) then spend about £50-£60 at Christmas. They know that if we go in a toy shop, it's only to look. Makes life a lot easier.

tinyganghq · 06/12/2004 14:37

Agree with all that's been said. Channel 5 in the mornings - AARRGH! Well done Gingerbells writing to complain - did you get a reply? I'd be interested to know what they said Smile

Roisin · 06/12/2004 14:41

My kids have had duvet covers for Christmas too Janh ... they loved them Grin

Mine don't watch any ITV/C4 ever, so we avoid the advertising problem. But I'm amazed how much they notice and comment on adverts on the billboards on the way to town, or the backs of buses.

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